Thursday-Sunday

A celebration of animation from independent shorts to feature films, the OMSI Animation Film Festival showcases a selection of intelligent, entertaining and provocative programming from some of the world’s most creative artists. The Festival runs from Thursday, September 15 through Sunday, September 18 at OMSI’s Empirical Theater. With highlights that include an appearance by Laika Studios’ 18-foot tall stop motion skeleton puppet, a cake-baking octopus, and an imaginative 1940’s steampunk adventure, the Empirical Theater’s giant screen will offer a fantastical smorgasbord of animation with something sure to appeal to nearly everyone.

Most cultures have a harvest festival and China is no exception. Zhong Qiu Jie (中秋节), the Mid-Autumn Festival, has roots back to ancient times and is an important traditional Chinese holiday. Taking place on the fifteenth day of the eight month of the lunar calendar, the Mid-Autumn Festival is usually on or close to the time of the “Harvest Moon” when the moon appears at its fullest during the autumnal equinox.

Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the four most important holidays on the Chinese calendar, at Lan Su Chinese Garden this September 15 – 18!

Friday

El Grito Fiestas Patrias celebrates the independence of Mexico and other Latin American countries from Spain. As the Mexican President presents the nation’s traditional El Grito in Mexico City, so too will Portland commemorate Mexico’s independence at the Rose Quarter Commons.

Saturday

Join us as we celebrate the beginning of Oktoberfest with a BEER GARDEN! We will have some classic German beers on draft from Paulaner, Ayinger, Hacker-Pschorr plus a special ceremonial Fest keg. We will have a beer garden set up outside with some of our favorite Oregon made German style beers from Heater Allen, pFriem, Rosenstadt and others. We will be encouraging costumes and awarding prizes for creative attire. We will be showing the Timbers on the Big Screen at 3pm. Then we will have a Paulaner gal hosting beer stein races, prizes will include Timbers tickets to the Final Home Game! Prost!

Saturday-Sunday

The Polish festival is an event for families and singles, adults and children, for food connoisseurs, music lovers, concert goers, dance enthusiasts, … It is for everyone.

During the festival, we provide non-stop stage performances, including a few dance groups and music bands, polka contest on Saturday and Sunday, a street dance, delicious Polish food and imported Polish beer.

Ongoing

Every year in late August, one of Portland’s most spectacular natural events begins: Thousands of Vaux’s Swifts gather in the city as they prepare to migrate to Central America and Venezuela. Migrating swifts often use chimneys as roosts (places to sleep), and they are likely to return to the same roost year after year. One population has been returning to Chapman since the 1980s, and it is one of the largest known roosting sites of migrating Vaux’s Swifts.

Saturday

It’s time to celebrate the opening of the new MAX Orange Line and Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People. Join us for a day of adventure and fun, with activities and entertainment at many of the newly opened Orange Line stations!

Come see, ride free! All rides on TriMet buses, MAX trains, Portland Streetcar and the Portland Aerial Tram are FREE all day long.

Big and little pirates alike are welcome to join us for a family festival all about groundwater! Play fun games and go on a scavenger hunt in search of hidden treasure – not gold, but groundwater, a precious resource that flows beneath your feet! Come dressed in yer finest pirate togs, or else the Cap’n might make ye walk the plank! Free kids T-shirts to the first 300 kids!

As we move towards the end of summer in the month of September its time to mark our calendars for the various Oktoberfest celebrations that will take place across the region. Now in its 11th year, the Widmer Brothers Brewing Oktoberfest, Portland’s largest and longest-running Oktoberfest celebration will take place on Saturday, September 12 from 3:00 to 11:00pm.

Ongoing

In September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts coalesce into a giant undulating swirl in Northwest Portland near Chapman School after spending the day eating bug. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the school’s huge old chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of mesmerized and picnic-sated Portlanders stare into the sky from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets while their oblivious children roll down the grassy hill screaming. Cheers erupt from the crowd when the slippery swifts dodge the opportunistic Peregrine falcons, boos when the predators get lucky.

Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. After spending their day eating bugs, the Swifts coalesce in Northwest Portland, flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky above the school. Around sunset the swirl gets more compact, like a ground pepper tornado, and begins disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below hundreds of Portlanders stare mesmerized at the sky, from the comfort of lawn chairs and blankets. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons get lucky. [more]

The Kicking + Screening Soccer Film Festival, an annual series of events that bring together soccer and film enthusiasts to celebrate the beautiful game, touches down in four cities this year: Liverpool, New York City, London, and Portland, Oregon. . .

On Thursday and Friday films, including Argentina Futbol Club, Loucos de Futebol Gringos at the Gate, A Most Improbable Life, and [more]

The sixth annual Slabtown Community Festival takes place Saturday, September 15, 2012 at the NW Portland library parking lot.

“Over the past six years, support of the Slabtown Community Festival has been tremendous. The neighborhood came together, participating as volunteers, merchants and festival-goers.” [more]

Cascadia Cup Match: Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Flounders

The Portland Timbers (7-14-6) play host to their Cascadian rivals, Seattle Sounders (13-6-8), at Jeld-Wen Field Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

A rare bright spot for the Timbers this season has been their play against the Cascadia rivals, Seattle and Vancouver – two wins and one draw – a win Saturday would go a long ways toward securing the Timbers’ first Cascadia Cup since 2010, and first ever against all three rivals in MLS.

Portland Mini Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly showcase of creativity and cool technology, and a celebration of the Maker movement. It’s inspiring, stimulating, and fun for all ages.

Maker Faire is a weekend filled with an incredible variety of exhibits, talks, demonstrations, and performances bridging arts, crafts, science and engineering—many of them hands-on and all of them engaging. Maker Faire, presented by Intel and MAKE Magazine, is a reflection of our community at its very best. [more]

Join the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and dozens of other LGBT organizations for a day of music, fun, and information in Portland’s living room. Meet other members of the community and learn all about the various organizations and teams throughout the Willamette Valley. Whether you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, just out, considering coming out, or an ally to the gay community, it’s guaranteed to be a wonderful event. [more]

Join the Kick Ass Oregon History crew and the fine folks from Nestucca Spit Press on Sunday, September 16, 2012 as they present the “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” 50th Anniversary Party at Mississippi Studios (3939 N. Mississippi) – the celebration begins at 7:30 p.m. [more]

Admission is free and this festival is all ages. The fest runs Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visit the Facebook page for more details and festival photos from previous years.

Every September thousands of Vaux’s Swifts come to Portland. They spend their days eating lots of bugs. In the late afternoon the Swifts begin flying in a giant undulating swirl in the sky about the school. Around sunset they swirl more tightly, like a ground pepper tornado, and begin disappearing, measure by measure, down the chimney. On the lawn below, hundreds of Portlanders gather on lawn chairs and blankets to stare at the sky, mesmerized. Boos erupt when opportunistic Peregrine falcons occasionally get lucky. The crowd cheers, however, when the predators are thwarted. Meanwhile unruly oblivious children scream and roll down the grassy hill. [more

A week after a hard fought draw at Philadelphia the Portland Timbers (9-12-6) return to Jeld-Wen Field today to take on the New England Revolution (5-11-12).

Portland is in relatively good form, winning the two matches previous, both at home. With a win today, the Timbers continue their fight for a playoff spot, but they’ll still need good results on the road to get there. [more]

The fest features the Wanderlust Circus, games and activities for the kids, breakdancers, and plenty of bike-related fun, including the Flatlanders (BMS trick riders), a Huffy Toss Competition, bike builders, and more! [more]

Join Portland’s Gay Men’s Choir this Sunday, September 18, 2011 for Gay Fair on the Square, an afternoon of entertainment and information as the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus puts the spotlight on area non-profit organizations serving the LGBT community.

Held at Pioneer Courthouse Square from 12:30pm to 5pm, over 60 LGBT friendly organization will be on hand at this free event, for an afternoon of music, information, and interaction. [more]

Beer West Magazine and Amnesia Brewing present Dog Day Afternoon, a benefit for Portland’s Pixie Project, this Sunday, September 18, 2011 at the brewpub (832 N Beech).

“The event is free to the public and all dogs and their owners are welcome (no kids under 21, please!). Events include a raffle and a “coolest dog trick” contest at 4 p.m. during which dogs can show off their best tricks to an audience of judges.” [more]

“Some of them deprive themselves of nutritious sustenance before taking their marks. Some of them use water as a lubricant to make these little torpedoes slippery enough to go down faster. Some of them simply break them in two and simultaneously inhale both halves like shameless sword-swallowing ducks.” [more]